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ARK Resettlement Services

Safeguarding

Protecting welfare, dignity, independence and human rights is central to our support. Everyone who uses our services deserves to feel safe, respected and heard.

Raising a concern Policy information
Staircase with dark gray carpet and white spindle railings, white walls and ceiling

Our policy statement

Safety is more than
responding to harm.

ARK Resettlement Services is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, dignity, independence and human rights of everyone who uses our services.

Safeguarding also means preventing harm, promoting wellbeing and creating safe environments where people feel respected and empowered.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination. Any concern, allegation or suspicion of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to immediately in line with safeguarding procedures.

A shared responsibility

Everyone has a part to play.

All staff, regardless of their role, seniority or employment status, have a duty to identify safeguarding concerns. This means staying alert to signs, indicators or patterns that may suggest abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Notice the signs

Unexplained injuries, fearfulness, withdrawal or sudden changes in behaviour can be reasons to check on someone’s wellbeing. A single sign may not tell the whole story.

Listen with care

Give someone space to explain what is worrying them. Listen without judgement, avoid leading questions and do not promise to keep a concern secret.

Take concerns seriously

You do not need to prove that abuse has happened before raising a concern. Share what you have seen or heard rather than trying to investigate it yourself.

Speaking up

Worried about someone’s safety?

If something does not feel right, take it seriously. These practical steps can help you share a concern clearly and safely.

  1. 01

    Put immediate safety first

    If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, contact the emergency services. Do not wait for an email response.

  2. 02

    Keep a factual note

    Where it is safe to do so, note what happened, when it happened and what was said. Keep the person’s own words separate from your observations.

  3. 03

    Raise your concern

    Tell the ARK team about a concern connected to our services. For concerns about an adult at risk, you can also contact the local council’s adult social services safeguarding team.

Contact ARK about a concern

Policy information

Safeguarding Adults Policy

Organisation: ARK Resettlement Services (ARKRS).

Clear ownership, approval and review help keep safeguarding policy accountable and up to date.

Policy owner
Responsible for ensuring the policy is implemented, updated and followed across the organisation.
Approved by
Confirms that the policy has been reviewed and formally authorised at senior leadership level.
Review date
Ensures the policy remains current, legally compliant and reflective of best practice.
Version control
Supports audit trails and demonstrates continuous improvement during inspections.

Everyday support

Respect across our services.

Our commitment to safeguarding applies throughout our work, from accommodation to mentoring and community support for people rebuilding their lives after prison.

A place to feel safe

A home should support dignity and independence. Feeling able to speak about worries is an important part of a safe living environment.

Explore our housing

Support with dignity

Respectful relationships give people room to express their needs, make choices and build confidence as they reconnect with their community.

Explore our programmes

Useful guidance

Safeguarding questions

You can raise a worry about yourself or someone else. You do not have to decide on your own whether something amounts to abuse.

What does safeguarding include?
Safeguarding includes preventing and responding to abuse, neglect and exploitation, as well as promoting wellbeing and protecting people’s rights. Harm can be physical, emotional, sexual or financial, and can happen in person or online.
What if I am unsure about what I have noticed?
Share the concern rather than waiting for certainty. Explain what you observed, what someone told you and why it worries you. Avoid confronting a person you suspect of causing harm or carrying out your own investigation.
What if a child may be at risk?
Concerns about a child should be raised with the local council’s children’s social care team. If there is immediate danger, contact the emergency services. Tell ARK too if the concern relates to our services.
Where can I seek help outside normal office hours?
For an urgent safeguarding concern that cannot wait, contact your local council’s out of hours social services team. If someone is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services instead of waiting for a routine response.
Can safeguarding information stay confidential?
A safeguarding concern should not be treated as a promise of secrecy. Information may need to be shared with appropriate services to protect someone from harm. For information about personal data, read our Privacy Policy.

Talk to ARK

Your concern matters.

Get in touch about safeguarding within our services or to ask about our Safeguarding Adults Policy. If someone is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services first.

Contact our team